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The Irreplaceables: Five players football teams can't do without

As Arizona high school football games kick off this week, Richard Obert takes a look at five players whose teams are dependent on their successes on both sides of the field. Isaac Hale/azcentral sports

Arizona's most irreplaceable high school football players - 2015

As Arizona high school football games kick off this week, Richard Obert takes a look at five players whose teams are dependent on their successes on both sides of the field.
Isaac Hale/azcentral sports

Byron Murphy, Scottsdale Saguaro, 6-0, 170, Sr. | He is being recruiting nationwide as a lock-down cornerback, but watch how the Sabercats roll him out on offense this season. Murphy made All-Arizona last year at wide receiver and he was supposed to complement Christian Kirk on offense. Jessie Wardarski/azcentral sports

Arizona's most irreplaceable high school football players - 2015

Byron Murphy, Scottsdale Saguaro, 6-0, 170, Sr. | He is being recruiting nationwide as a lock-down cornerback, but watch how the Sabercats roll him out on offense this season. Murphy made All-Arizona last year at wide receiver and he was supposed to complement Christian Kirk on offense.
Jessie Wardarski/azcentral sports

Now Murphy sort of steps into the Kirk role, where Saguaro will move him around and get the ball out to him in space. David Kadlubowski/azcentral sports

Arizona's most irreplaceable high school football players - 2015

Now Murphy sort of steps into the Kirk role, where Saguaro will move him around and get the ball out to him in space.
David Kadlubowski/azcentral sports

Isaiah Pola-Mao, Phoenix Mountain Pointe, 6-4, 191, Jr. | Last year, Pola-Mao made an immediate impact in the secondary as a long, rangy, athletic safety who finished with eight interceptions and a spot on azcentral sports’ All-Arizona team. This year, Pola-Mao not only will be back at safety, but a game changer on offense at wide receiver. Michael Schennum/azcentral sports

Arizona's most irreplaceable high school football players - 2015

Isaiah Pola-Mao, Phoenix Mountain Pointe, 6-4, 191, Jr. | Last year, Pola-Mao made an immediate impact in the secondary as a long, rangy, athletic safety who finished with eight interceptions and a spot on azcentral sports’ All-Arizona team. This year, Pola-Mao not only will be back at safety, but a game changer on offense at wide receiver.
Michael Schennum/azcentral sports

And he’s got the quarterback, UNLV-commit Jack Smith, to get him the ball. Watch how Mountain Pointe takes advantage of his size and skills on offense, much the same way it did with Jalen Brown his last two years with the Pride in 2012 and ’13. Michael Schennum/azcentral sports

Arizona's most irreplaceable high school football players - 2015

And he’s got the quarterback, UNLV-commit Jack Smith, to get him the ball. Watch how Mountain Pointe takes advantage of his size and skills on offense, much the same way it did with Jalen Brown his last two years with the Pride in 2012 and ’13.
Michael Schennum/azcentral sports

Roy Lopez III, Gilbert Mesquite, 6-2, 290, Sr. | Lopez, a state champion heavyweight wrestler, will do the grunt work this season on the offensive and defensive lines. He is being recruited by colleges on both sides of the line, and for good reason. Sports360AZ

Arizona's most irreplaceable high school football players - 2015

Roy Lopez III, Gilbert Mesquite, 6-2, 290, Sr. | Lopez, a state champion heavyweight wrestler, will do the grunt work this season on the offensive and defensive lines. He is being recruited by colleges on both sides of the line, and for good reason.
Sports360AZ

He is as valuable on one side of the ball as he is the other. He has his dad working with him and he doesn’t take it easy on the big guy. Lopez’s motor is always going, and this will be his season to break out big on both sides of the line. Mesquite

Arizona's most irreplaceable high school football players - 2015

He is as valuable on one side of the ball as he is the other. He has his dad working with him and he doesn’t take it easy on the big guy. Lopez’s motor is always going, and this will be his season to break out big on both sides of the line.
Mesquite

Isaac Steele, Peoria Centennial, 6-2, 180, Sr. | Centennial will have a few key two-way players who will make impacts on both sides, but Steele is their leader – a mobile, strong-armed quarterback who will be assigned to opposing teams’ No.1 receiver. Isaac Hale/azcentral sports

Arizona's most irreplaceable high school football players - 2015

Isaac Steele, Peoria Centennial, 6-2, 180, Sr. | Centennial will have a few key two-way players who will make impacts on both sides, but Steele is their leader – a mobile, strong-armed quarterback who will be assigned to opposing teams’ No.1 receiver.
Isaac Hale/azcentral sports

Steele cherishes the challenge. He has made tremendous strides since his sophomore year at quarterback. His skills have never been doubted at cornerback, the position at which he could end up being a big-time college player. Isaac Hale/azcentral sports

Arizona's most irreplaceable high school football players - 2015

Steele cherishes the challenge. He has made tremendous strides since his sophomore year at quarterback. His skills have never been doubted at cornerback, the position at which he could end up being a big-time college player.
Isaac Hale/azcentral sports

Justice Summerset, Marana Mountain View, 6-4, 170, Sr. | He is the man at quarterback, free safety and punter for a team hungrier than ever this season. Mountain View will be a challenger to the title this season, mainly because of Summerset. Arizona Daily Star

Arizona's most irreplaceable high school football players - 2015

Justice Summerset, Marana Mountain View, 6-4, 170, Sr. | He is the man at quarterback, free safety and punter for a team hungrier than ever this season. Mountain View will be a challenger to the title this season, mainly because of Summerset.
Arizona Daily Star

He can do it all. He makes plays with his arm and legs on offense. He is a tremendous presence in the secondary. If any hang time on passes, he will get it and he will take it back. Arizona Daily Star

Arizona's most irreplaceable high school football players - 2015

He can do it all. He makes plays with his arm and legs on offense. He is a tremendous presence in the secondary. If any hang time on passes, he will get it and he will take it back.
Arizona Daily Star

Interested in this topic? You may also want to view these photo galleries:

As Arizona high school football games kick off this week, Richard Obert takes a look at five players whose teams are dependent on their successes on both sides of the field.(Photo: Michael Schennum/azcentral sports)

He is being recruiting nationwide as a lock-down cornerback, but watch how the Sabercats roll him out on offense this season. Murphy made All-Arizona last year at wide receiver and he was supposed to complement Christian Kirk on offense. Now Murphy sort of steps into the Kirk role, where Saguaro will move him around and get the ball out to him in space.

Last year, Pola-Mao made an immediate impact in the secondary as a long, rangy, athletic safety who finished with eight interceptions and a spot on azcentral sports’ All-Arizona team. This year, Pola-Mao not only will be back at safety, but a game changer on offense at wide receiver. And he’s got the quarterback, UNLV-commit Jack Smith, to get him the ball. Watch how Mountain Pointe takes advantage of his size and skills on offense, much the same way it did with Jalen Brown his last two years with the Pride in 2012 and ’13.

Lopez, a state champion heavyweight wrestler, will do the grunt work this season on the offensive and defensive lines. He is being recruited by colleges on both sides of the line, and for good reason. He is as valuable on one side of the ball as he is the other. He has his dad working with him and he doesn’t take it easy on the big guy. Lopez’s motor is always going, and this will be his season to break out big on both sides of the line.

Quarterback Drew Inness (9) calls teammates in for a break at the start of drills during football practice at Northwest Christian School in Phoenix, AZ, on Tuesday, August 11, 2015. Isaac Hale/azcentral sports

San Tan Foothills senior Kyle Stanford (center right) carries the ball during a high school football practice at San Tan Foothills High School in San Tan Valley on Thursday, August 6, 2015. David Wallace/azcentral sports

San Tan Foothills High School head football coach John Sanders coaches during a high school football practice at San Tan Foothills High School in San Tan Valley on Thursday, August 6, 2015. David Wallace/azcentral sports

San Tan Foothills High School head football coach John Sanders coaches during a high school football practice at San Tan Foothills High School in San Tan Valley on Thursday, August 6, 2015. David Wallace/azcentral sports

San Tan Foothills High School offensive coordinator Mike Reardon coaches during a high school football practice at San Tan Foothills High School in San Tan Valley on Thursday, August 6, 2015. David Wallace/azcentral sports

San Tan Foothills junior Johnny Craig looks to block during a high school football practice at San Tan Foothills High School in San Tan Valley on Thursday, August 6, 2015. David Wallace/azcentral sports

San Tan Foothills High School offensive coordinator Mike Reardon coaches during a high school football practice at San Tan Foothills High School in San Tan Valley on Thursday, August 6, 2015. David Wallace/azcentral sports

San Tan Foothills sophomore Manny Armenta carries the ball during a high school football practice at San Tan Foothills High School in San Tan Valley on Thursday, August 6, 2015. David Wallace/azcentral sports

San Tan Foothills sophomore Manny Armenta (right) carries the ball during a high school football practice at San Tan Foothills High School in San Tan Valley on Thursday, August 6, 2015. David Wallace/azcentral sports

San Tan Foothills High School head football coach John Sanders coaches during a high school football practice at San Tan Foothills High School in San Tan Valley on Thursday, August 6, 2015. David Wallace/azcentral sports

San Tan Foothills High School head football coach John Sanders coaches during a high school football practice at San Tan Foothills High School in San Tan Valley on Thursday, August 6, 2015. David Wallace/azcentral sports

San Tan Foothills High School football coach John Sanders looks on during a high school football practice at San Tan Foothills High School in San Tan Valley on Thursday, August 6, 2015. David Wallace/azcentral sports

Defensive end Chris Jules, center, breaks through a block from Marshal Nathe, right, and Randy Rodriguez, left, during a drill during football practice at Centennial High School in Peoria, AZ, on Monday, August 3, 2015. Isaac Hale/azcentral sports

Running Back Quentin Gomez fakes procession of the ball while quarterback Isaac Steele looks to pass during a drill during football practice at Centennial High School in Peoria, AZ, on Monday, August 3, 2015. Isaac Hale/azcentral sports

Defensive end Chris Jules, center, breaks through a block from Marshal Nathe, right, during a drill during football practice at Centennial High School in Peoria, AZ, on Monday, August 3, 2015. Isaac Hale/azcentral sports

Linebacker Bozton Sanders, center, jokes with running Back Quentin Gomez, left, and defensive end Chris Jules, right, during football practice at Centennial High School in Peoria, AZ, on Monday, August 3, 2015. Isaac Hale/azcentral sports

Wide receiver M. J. Harris, center, listens as a coach instructs him and his teammates during football practice at Basha High School in Chandler, AZ, on Thursday, July 30, 2015. Isaac Hale/azcentral sports

Wide receiver Hunter Dean-Gibson, right, and offensive lineman Nathaniel Jonathan, center, take a break with the team during football practice at Basha High School in Chandler, AZ, on Thursday, July 30, 2015. Isaac Hale/azcentral sports

Left to right, defensive back Lance Johnson, middle linebacker Caleb McCray, and safety Devan Scanlon take a break during football practice at Basha High School in Chandler, AZ, on Thursday, July 30, 2015. Isaac Hale/azcentral sports

Quarterback Daniel Bridge Gadd, right, and wide receiver Jacob Brown, left, joke around on the sidelines during football practice at Paradise Valley High School in Phoenix, AZ, on Wednesday, July 29, 2015. Isaac Hale/azcentral sports

Head coach Greg Davis jumps up and congratulates wide receiver Jacob Brown after he made a catch in a drill during football practice at Paradise Valley High School in Phoenix, AZ, on Wednesday, July 29, 2015. Isaac Hale/azcentral sports

Centennial will have a few key two-way players who will make impacts on both sides, but Steele is their leader – a mobile, strong-armed quarterback who will be assigned to opposing teams’ No.1 receiver. Steele cherishes the challenge. He has made tremendous strides since his sophomore year at quarterback. His skills have never been doubted at cornerback, the position at which he could end up being a big-time college player.

He is the man at quarterback, free safety and punter for a team hungrier than ever this season. Mountain View will be a challenger to the title this season, mainly because of Summerset. He can do it all. He makes plays with his arm and legs on offense. He is a tremendous presence in the secondary. If any hang time on passes, he will get it and he will take it back.

Reach Obert at richard.obert@arizonarepublic.com or 602-460-1710. Follow him at twitter.com/azc_obert, Listen to the Which Wich High School Football Preview Show every Friday from 6-7 p.m., on NBC Sports Radio AM 1060 with Dan Manucci and Richard Obert.

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By Scott Bordow: I have to make high school football picks every week during the season. Usually, my record indicates the art of prognostication eludes me. But does that deter me from making 10 predictions about the upcoming season? Not a chance. Jessie Wardarski/azcentral sports

GAMES THAT MATTER | I hope this one comes true, that on a Friday night in October a game between two Phoenix Union High School District teams will be meaningful and played before a packed house. The move of all 10 district teams to the same section in Division III should result in more wins and more interest. Tom Tingle/azcentral sports

NORRIS VAUGHAN AND GEORGIA | There are few coaches I enjoy talking to more than Mountain Pointe's Norris Vaughan. He's colorful, opinionated and always quotable, which I appreciate. Invariably, though, Vaughan will bring up his coaching days in Georgia and how coaches there are paid so much more. Patrick Breen/azcentral sports

NEW SEASON, SAME STORY | The Arizona Interscholastic Association can do everything possible to create more parity but you and I know which teams will be vying for a state title come November, particularly in Division I and Division II. I'd love to see some upstart teams make a deep run in the postseason. Dominic Valente/azcentral sports

STAYING PUT | The work ASU coach Todd Graham and Arizona coach Rich Rodriguez have done in building relationships with high school coaches – and the respective success of the two programs – should start to pay off. Some of the top recruits will undoubtedly cross state lines but expect more and more kids to stay home. Casey Sapio-USA TODAY Sports

MAKING NOISE | San Tan Foothills' hiring of John Sanders means one thing: The volume will be turned up in the far southeast Valley. Sanders, who led Scottsdale Saguaro to four state championships in five years, is combative, opinionated and supremely confident. Sanders will make things interesting. Michael Schennum/azcentral sports

BRYCE PERKINS APPRECIATION | I think we'll find out this season just how good former Chandler High quarterback Bryce Perkins was last year. That's not a knock against his successor, Mason Moran, who already is committed to Oregon State. But Perkins was an extraordinary talent. Michael Chow/azcentral sports

4,000 YARDS | Could an Arizona quarterback throw for 4,000 yards this season? I wouldn't be surprised. Defenses seem to be helpless against the no-huddle, spread offenses that have become the norm. If QBs are in enough tight games that they're still throwing the ball in the fourth quarter, they could vault past 4,000. Isaac Hale/azcentral sports

MISSING OUT | Too many Valley football fans won't take the time to get in their cars and drive a few hours to see a small-school rivalry game. That's their loss. I'll repeat what I've said dozens of times: Do yourself a favor and check out a Blue Ridge-Show Low game or some other rural contest. Michael Chow/azcentral sports

SAYING GOODBYE | Call this one a hunch: A prominent coach either will retire or leave his program after the season. I don't know who it will be but my Spidey sense is tingling. Jessie Wardarski/azcentral sports